Children's book on pet loss inspired by Wilbur

A bereavement specialist has written a pair of children's books about how to cope with the death of a pet after she lost her own dog.

BBC News reports that Lorna Vyse, from Norwich, started the project because she felt there was a lack of help supporting young people through this type of grief.

She believed some children were sheltered from conversations about the death of a pet, and said the book attempted to give them an "honest" understanding about loss and bereavement.

The author has 30 years' experience in the field and has previously released a collection of books to support children after the loss of a parent.

Wilbur, a labrador cross, was 11 when he died of a brain tumour. Ms Vyse said her family was "completely heartbroken" when it happened and "it was incredibly painful saying goodbye to him".

It inspired Saying Goodbye to Wilbur, a story about a boy who adopts a dog that then dies.

Ms Vyse has also released an accompanying workbook, Saying Goodbye: My Pet Memory Journal, aimed at prompting children to reflect on the death of their pets.

"I have always believed that children and young people (are) sheltered from conversations about illness, death and dying," she said.

It happened "even more so when it comes to pets". She added: "We always say 'We are putting a pet to sleep', and that is a confusing message for young people."

Ms Vyse said she hoped children would get "an honest and real understanding about what happens at the end of a pet’s life" after reading the book.

(Story source: BBC News)